Insomnia Perplexes Sleep Experts

Published Online: Monday, August 1, 2005

Follow Pharmacy_Times:

Chronic insomnia remains a mystery,
concluded a panel of specialists convened
by the National Institutes of
Health. The panel did find, however, that
chronic insomnia is a major health problem,
and too many individuals are using
unproven therapies, even with treatments
available that are effective. The
panel's report, "Manifestations and
Management of Chronic Insomnia in
Adults" found:

Cognitive/behavioral therapy is
effective and does not have side
effects

New prescription sleep pills work
without many of the side effects
associated with older agents known
as benzodiazepines

The most commonly used treatments
are alcohol and OTC sedating
antihistamines; alcohol usually
disrupts quality sleep, and antihistamines
can cause lasting daytime
sedation and other cognitive problems

There is no evidence supporting the
effectiveness of the dietary supplements
melatonin and valerian to
combat insomnia

The panel recommended a broader
range of research into insomnia, reporting
that, if researchers understood its
underlying cause, they could develop
effective treatments.